South Africa’s Deputy President Calls For 'Renewal' Amid Zuma Backlash

Ramaphosa says the moment to renew the country had arrived. AFP

South Africa's  Eye Witness News has shared an audio recording of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for a renewal of the country and criticizing "greedy and corrupt people."

In the two-minute clip Mr Ramaphosa calls on South Africans to "be in support of those who will be leading that charge because a moment of great renewal is upon us, so let's act together in unity."

He says: 

What you are required to do as citizens of this country is to support the efforts that are going to be made by those who want to make sure that our country lives up to the values of Nelson Mandela. The values of Oliver Thambo. Be in support of those who will be leading that charge because the moment of the great renewal is upon us. "

It appears the clip is from a speech he delivered in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, EWN reports. 

His comments come at a time when President Jacob Zuma is facing widesperad criticism over his sacking last week of widely respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, a decision Mr Ramaphosa described as "totally unacceptable". 

He calls on South Africans to unite to make the country great and corruption free: 

In other excerpts from the speech, he says:

Let us remain hopeful as South Africans. The events that are unfolding now are not events that should make us scared. They are not events that should make us afraid of the future that beckons.

Our people are yes yearning, for yes, leadership. They are also yearning for a government that is going to serve the interest of the people.

What is happening now is a process that is going to trigger that renewal. That renewal that we all need.

He says that the moment to renew the country has arrived and that South Africans must not let it pass."

The comments may be seen as Mr Ramaphosa positioning himself to take over from Mr Zuma when he steps down as the leader of the ruling African National Congress later this year, or before then, should opposition plans to oust or impeach Mr Zuma prove successful.

South Africa's Deputy President Criticizes Corruption

Associated Press reports that South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa called for his countrymen to get rid of "greedy" and "corrupt" people, in remarks seen as an attack on President Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa was speaking after Jacob Zuma fired widely respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle last week in which he purged other political opponents.

"What you are required to do as citizens of this country is to support the efforts that are going to be made by those that are going to make sure that our country lives up to values of Nelson Mandela," Ramaphosa said in KwaZulu-Natal province over the weekend. His speech was broadcast on the local radio station EWN on Monday morning. "Be in support of those who will be leading that charge. Because a moment of great renewal is upon us and we should not let it go by," said Ramaphosa.

Since Zuma sacked Gordhan on Friday, concerns over corruption in the government are blamed for a fall in the value of the currency of South Africa, one of Africa's most industrialized economies.

Gordhan was seen as a bulwark against corruption. His sacking set off an outcry by anti-Zuma factions in the ruling African National Congress and opposition parties.

Economists say it is likely that South Africa, which saw economic growth of just 0.5 percent last year and has an unemployment rate of around 27 percent, will be downgraded to junk status by credit ratings agencies.

Calls have been growing for Zuma to step down since August last year when the ANC lost control of key metropolitan areas in local elections, partly because of dissatisfaction with the president's performance.

"Let us act together in unity," said Ramaphosa. "Unite our country, unite our movement under one goal. The goal of making South Africa great. The goal of making South Africa corruption free. The goal of making South Africa a South Africa we can all be proud of and getting rid of greedy people, corrupt people within our country."

South Africa's speaker of parliament said on Sunday that she is considering an emergency motion of no confidence against Zuma. Baleka Mbete said her office received a letter from the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, requesting that the national assembly, which is in recess until May 10, resume earlier to vote on the motion.

Although the ANC's reputation as the main movement against apartheid has been tainted by corruption allegations, it is still seen as the front-runner ahead of general elections in 2019.